Tulips raises ‘phenomenal’ amount of funds in this year’s ‘Pink October’
ALMOST a quarter of a million Turkish lira was raised during this year’s “Pink October” breast cancer awareness activities, it has been revealed.
The “phenomenal” amount of 228,508TL, the highest for four years, will be used for the treatment of 200 breast cancer patients supported by the Help Those With Cancer Association (Tulips).
The impressive 2019 tally was boosted by the efforts of four keen Tulips supporters — Sue Tilt, Carole King, Auriana Stevens and Lynda Hillard — known as the “Blister Sisters”, who embarked on a sevenday 200km sponsored trek around the TRNC in October following six months of training. Each kilometre represented one of the 200 new breast cancer patients who are diagnosed in North Cyprus every year and who need at least 1,000TL each in support, meaning enough cash has been raised to help
them all. There are so many people to thank and the Blister Sisters have tried to keep on top of their thanks and appreciation throughout the six months leading up to, during and after Pink October, so it would be wrong to mention anyone individually at this stage, but we are all extremely grateful for all the love and support that we have received,” Mrs Tilt said.
The four women had trepidations about the gruelling walk and had “no idea how big the event would become”, Mrs Tilt recalled.
“We honestly thought that there would be fingers pointed at the ‘mad English women’ posing as the Blister Sisters as we stomped around the TRNC,” she said.
“Two notable things have come out of this challenge. The first being the friendship that we have forged between us all. We were a ‘team’ right from the very start, encouraging each other and supporting each other as we all experienced an injury, a cold, chest infection, etc., prior to our trip, but the walk sealed our friendship. . . The second thing was the support that we received both from the expat and local communities alike along our journey.
“On our last day . . . we never anticipated so many would turn up to greet us. It was incredibly emotional for all of us . . . yes there were tears but they were tears of happiness.”
During October, also known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Step-AThon challenge saw 10 people complete their challenge of walking 10,000 steps a day for 31 days and managing to raise 25,330TL, which contributed towards the funds total.
“They raised more per head than the previous three years we held the Step-AThon challenge which is exceptional and we can’t thank them enough as what they did was fantastic” Mrs Tilt added.
Tulips founding chairman Raziye Kocaismail hailed the fundraisers’ achievements.
“It was a tiring seven days and it was unbelievable to see them complete it tirelessly,” she said.
“They sang as they walked and danced along, climbed over mountains and were caught in the rain but again they didn’t give up. As well as them, we had the steppers who also walked to raise money for us and all raised a huge amount of money.”
Mrs Kocaismail said that Tulips is now working on a “second project”, with the Health Ministry, to purchase a 50,000TL “ultrasound device” which will be taken to women in different regions of North Cyprus to make health services more accessible.